Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF COMBINING MATERIALS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and control system for combining
materials.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many methods are known in the art for combining fluid materials. Typically,
the
materials are combined upstream of a mix tank. Such materials are then jointly
added to
the mix tank and stirred until a homogenous blend is achieved. Further
processing steps
downstream of the confluence region may include the addition of more
material(s), the
addition or removal of energy, such as thermal energy, etc.
Additionally or alternatively, such materials can be mixed in a dynamic mix
tank
using mechanical agitation and/or alternative forms of agitation, such as
ultrasonic
vibration. The combined materials, or blend, may then be transported
downstream and
become an intermediate for further processing. Alternatively, these materials
may be
added to a container for ultimate sale or use.
The prior art methods and systems have several disadvantages. If such a mix
tank
is used, it can require considerable energy to achieve the desired mixing. If
one desires to
change the formulation, or even the minor materials, this change usually
entails cleaning
the entire tank and associated system. Cleaning the entire system can be time-
consuming
and laborious. Then new materials are added and the process begins again.
Considerable
waste of time and materials can occur.
Transients from no production or low rate production to full production rates
are
inevitable when changes between different products occur, etc. It is generally
desirable
that such a transient be over and steady state operation resume as quickly as
possible.
This is because one typically desires reaching steady state production rates
as soon as
reasonably practicable. Furthermore, product manufactured out of specification
during
transients may be wasted. If one were to accept a slower transient, then it is
likely greater
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accuracy in the products manufactured during the transient can occur and less
product
may be wasted by having a slower transient. Thus a tradeoff is present in the
art.
Often, the speed in which a system and respond to transients is limited by the
hardware. For example, a flow meter which is intended to provide actual flow
rate at a
particular point in time may not follow and/or indicate a change in flow rate
as quickly as
one would like for the rate of change of the transient. For example, valves
which provide
flow control and ultimately the rate of material addition may not respond as
quickly as
one would desire. Furthermore, different sizes of valves, different operators
used in
conjunction with the valves, and even valves from different manufacturers may
respond at
different rates once a command signal is received. Yet further, the same valve
may
respond at different rates over different portions of the open/close cycle.
Accordingly, what is needed is an apparatus, and process of using such
apparatus,
which allows for quickly changing the formulation of a blend, accurately
follows
transients, minimizes wasted materials, and rapidly provides for homogeneity
in the
blend. Unless otherwise stated, all times expressed herein are in seconds,
proportions and
percentages herein are based on volume. Optionally, the invention may use
proportions
and percentages based on mass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises an apparatus for combining materials to make a
combination. The materials may include at least one major material and at
least one
minor material. The major and minor materials are combined in a confluence
region. The
confluence region has an inlet for supplying each major material and one or
more inlets
for supplying each minor material. The combined materials are discharged from
the
confluence region through a common outlet, without the use of a mix tank, flow
control
valve or flow control feedback loop between the inlets and the common outlet.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for blending together
two or more materials. The method comprises the steps of providing a first
material and
at least one additional material, then combining these materials in a
predetermined
proportion. The materials may be combined at differing flow rates, while
maintaining the
predetermined proportion within a relatively tight tolerance.
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In one particular embodiment there is provided an apparatus for adding a
material
combination to a container, which container is insertable into and removable
from said
apparatus, said apparatus comprising: at least one supply for at least one
major material; at least
one supply for at least one minor material; each said supply for said at least
one major material
and each said supply for said at least one minor material having an element
for supplying
energy to a supply device associated therewith for supplying said respective
major material or
minor material, the elements for supplying energy being operable independently
of each other,
each said supply being in communication with a portion of said apparatus
defining a confluence
region comprising a pipe, whereby said at least one major material and minor
material come
together in a predetermined ratio within said confluence region wherein mixing
takes place at or
adjacent to the confluence region and utilizes a mixer selected from the group
of mixers
consisting of ultrasonic mixers, cavitation mixers, static mixers and Zanker
plates; Wherein at
said confluence region there is: an inlet for supplying each said major
material; an inlet for
supplying each said minor material; and a common outlet for discharging said
at least one
major material and said at least one minor material combined together from
said confluence
region into the container; wherein the accuracy of the predetermined ratio is
maintained by
controlling a property of the elements for supplying energy to the supply
devices.
In a further particular embodiment there is provided a method for controlling
the amount of
two or more materials combined together in a predetermined proportion, said
method
comprising the steps of. inputting a velocity setpoint to a velocity control;
converting said
velocity control to at least one of a torque control signal or a current
control signal; inputting
said at least one of said torque control signal and the said current control
signal to a motive
force to thereby determine the rate of operation of said motive force; and not
measuring the
flow rate of any of the materials being blended to control said predetermined
proportion.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary system according to the present
invention, shown partially in cutaway and providing for eight minor materials.
Fig. 2 is an instantaneous vertical sectional view of an exemplary system
according to the present invention, schematically pumps for supplying the
minor materials
to the confluence region and a circumferential clamp therearound.
Fig. 3 is a graph showing the performance curve of an illustrative system
according to the prior art for a command signal having a step input.
Fig. 4 is a graph showing a transient response curve of an exemplary system
according to the present invention for a step input, as compared to an
idealized theoretical
response of the prior art for the same step input.
Fig. 5 is a graph of transient response curves of a system for a 0.2 second
ramp
input showing the command signal and certain process variables for one major
and two
minor materials.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged graph of the transient response curve of one of the
minor
materials in Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a graph showing the instantaneous error of the system of Fig. 4.
Fig. 8 is a graph showing the cumulative error of the system of Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a flow rate feedback control system,
according to
the prior art.
Fig. 10 is an exemplary schematic diagram of a motor position feedback control
system usable with the present invention, showing optional components in
dashed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to Figs. 1- 2, the invention comprises an apparatus 10 and process
for
combining, blending or mixing two or more materials. Combining refers to
adding
materials together with or without substantial mixing towards achieving
homogeneity.
Mixing and blending interchangeably refer to combining and further achieving a
relatively
greater degree of homogeneity thereafter.
The resulting combination of materials may be disposed in a container (not
shown). The container may be insertable into and removable from the apparatus
10. The
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apparatus 10 comprises apparatus 10 hardware for adding at least one major or
first
material to the container and for adding at least one minor or second through
nth materials
to the container. The apparatus 10 for adding the major material(s) and minor
material(s)
provides for some or all of these materials to come together in a confluence
region 12.
The confluence region 12 is the region or point where the major material(s)
and at least
one, and likely each, of the minor material(s) initially come into contacting
relationship
with one another and is where mixing may occur. Mixing of the major
material(s) and
minor material(s) may occur at the confluence region 12, downstream thereof,
or both.
The confluence region 12 may comprise one or more inlets 14A, which may be
referred to as a major material inlet 14A, for supplying one or more major
materials, and
at least one inlet 141, each of which may be referred to as a minor material
inlet 141, for
supplying one or more minor materials. The confluence region 12 may further
comprise
at least one common outlet 16 for discharging the major material(s) and minor
material(s)
from the confluence region 12, and optionally directly into the container or
optionally to
the container after further processing. It is understood that after the
materials leave the
confluence region 12 through the common outlet 16, a single container may be
filled or
plural containers having equal or unequal volumes and flow rates thereinto may
be filled
in parallel.
The apparatus 10 for supplying the minor material(s) may comprise one or more
inlet tube(s) 141 inserted into the apparatus 10 for supplying the minor
material(s) directly
to the confluence region 12. Each minor material may have a dedicated inlet
tube 141 or,
alternatively, plural minor materials may be inserted through a single inlet
tube 141. Of
course, if desired, the same minor material may be added through more than one
inlet tube
141, in various combinations of like or different materials, quantities, feed
rates, flow
rates, concentrations, temperatures, etc.
The inlet 141 for each of the minor materials terminates at an inlet discharge
18.
The inlet discharges 18 may lie in a common plane, as shown. The inlet
discharge 18
defines the beginning of the confluence regions 12, as noted above. The inlet
discharge
18 is the point a minor material leaves a respective inlet 141 and enters the
confluence
region 12. The inlet discharge 18 may be closely juxtaposed with an inline
mixer, so that
mixing of the materials occurs almost immediately in the confluence region 12.
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While apparatus 10 having eight inlet tubes 141, each equally spaced from the
other, are illustrated, one of skill will recognize the invention as not so
limited. More or
less inlet tubes 141 may be provided and be equally or unequally spaced
circumferentially,
radially, and/or longitudinally. Further, the inlet tubes 141 may have equal
or unequal
cross sectional areas, shapes, lengths and flow rates therethrough. The minor
materials
may be supplied to the inlet tubes 141 from one or more common sources or from
different sources.
If desired, the volume of the inlet tubes 141 for the minor materials may be
relatively small relative to the total volume of the entire apparatus 10. This
relative sizing
provides the benefit that less hysteresis in the system might occur, due to
the small
volume of the inlet tubes 141 between the pump 20, and the confluence region
12.
The apparatus 10 may comprise a plurality of supply lines for the minor
materials.
Each supply line may extend from the source of at least one major material or
at least one
minor material to a respective inlet discharge 18 within the confluence region
12.
The inlet discharge 18 may occur at the distal end of an inlet tube 141. Each
supply line thereby defines a volume from its respective material supply to
its respective
discharge within the confluence region 12. The at least on supply for adding
at least one
major material subtends a first volume extends from that material source to
the common
plane where the inlet discharges 18 occur. Each supply for adding each of said
minor
materials subtends a sub-volume. The sub-volumes are combined to yield a
second
volume. The first volume and the second volume are summed to yield a total
volume.
The second volume may comprise less than 20 percent, less than 10 percent,
less than 5
percent or less than 3 percent of the total volume.
The first material may be injected into the confluence region 12 at a first
velocity.
The second through Nth materials may be injected into the confluence region 12
at a
second velocity, a third velocity, ... up to N velocities for N minor
materials. The second
through Nth velocities may be matched to, substantially the same as, or may be
slightly
different than the first velocity and each other. One or more of the minor
materials may
generally correspond with or be matched in flow velocity at the time of entry
into the
confluence region 12 to the velocity of the at least one major material(s) at
that same
cross-section of the confluence region 12. In one embodiment of the invention,
any or all
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of the second through Nth velocities of the minor materials may be within 50
percent,
and may even be more closely matched to within 25 percent, and may even be
more
closely matched to 5 percent of the first velocity of the major material(s).
This
arrangement allows the minor materials to enter the flow as a continuous
stream, without
dribbling, and thereby promote better mixing. The discharge speed of the minor
material
into the flow stream is determined by a combination of the discharge orifice
(if any) and
the output of the pump 20 supplying that minor material. In a degenerate case,
the first
velocity may be identically matched to any or all of the second through Nth
velocities.
If desired the apparatus 10 and method including the present invention may
utilize plural
confluence regions 12. The plural confluence regions 12 may be disposed in
series, in
parallel, or a combination thereof. The plural confluence regions 12 may be
identical or
different in any or all of their major materials, minor materials,
proportions, flow rates,
command signals, etc. Certain plural confluence regions 12 may be used to
premix minor
materials, major materials, or any combination thereof to be mixed with other
materials in
later- occurring in confluence regions 12.
The container may be the final receptacle for the combination of the major and
minor materials after they are blended together and leave the confluence
region 12. The
container may be ultimately shipped and sold to the consumer, or may be used
for
transport and storage of the blend of major materials and minor materials as
an
intermediate.
The container may be moved into and out of the apparatus 10 under its own
power, as occurs with a tanker truck container, may be moved by the apparatus
10 itself,
or by an outside motive force. In a degenerate case, all of the minor
materials are added
to one major material at the same point, thereby defining the beginning of the
confluence
region 12. The end of the confluence region 12 is defined as the common outlet
16
therefrom. In a degenerate case, the common outlet 16 may be into atmospheric
pressure
conditions, such as into a container filled with air, into a vacuum, such as
an evacuated
container, or even into a pressurized container. The blend or other
combination of
materials may be held above atmospheric pressure from the confluence region 12
to the
point of discharge into the container.
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The container may be of any suitable size, geometry, configuration, number,
etc.
The volume of the container may range from a few cubic centimeters to at least
the size of
a railroad tanker. The container may be provided with a frangible or
resealable closure as
are well known in the art, and be made of any material suitable for containing
the
materials combined according to the present invention.
The end of the confluence region 12 can also be defined as that point at which
substantial homogeneity is obtained and additional intermixing of the
materials is
insubstantial. Such a point may occur prior to discharge into a container. The
length of
the confluence region 12 is defined as the distance from the beginning of the
confluence
region 12 to the aforementioned common outlet 16. The volume of the confluence
region
12 is the length multiplied by the cross-sectional area of the confluence
region 12 therein.
The length of the confluence region 12 may be relatively short compared to the
inlet tubes
141 and other geometries in the system.
While a confluence region 12 of constant cross section is shown, one will
realize
the invention is not so limited. The invention may be of variable cross
section, such as
convergent, divergent, barrel-shaped Venturi-shaped, etc.
As used herein, a major material is the largest single material in the final
combination and may refer to any one material which comprises more than 33
percent,
and, in another embodiment, even more than 50 percent, and may even comprise
more
than 67 percent of the total composition. Equal volumes for plural major and
minor
materials are contemplated herein. In contrast, a minor material is any one
material which
may comprise less than or equal to 50 percent, in another embodiment 10
percent, in
another embodiment less than 5 percent, and in still another embodiment less
than 1
percent of the total composition. The invention also contemplates plural
materials in
equal and/or relatively equal proportions and/or flow rates.
The apparatus 10 for supplying the major material may comprise a pipe,
conduit,
open channel, or any other suitable apparatus 10 through which the materials
may flow.
While a round pipe is illustrated, the invention is not so limited. Any
desired cross
section, constant or variable, may be utilized.
The apparatus 10 and method described and claimed herein do not require a
dynamic mix tank. As used herein, a mix tank refers to tanks, vats, vessels
and reactors
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and is inclusive of the batch and continuous stir systems which use an
impeller, jet mixing
nozzle, a recirculating loop, gas percolation, or similar means of agitation
to combine
materials therein. It can be difficult to quickly and accurately follow and
achieve desired
transient flow rates using a dynamic mix tank. This is because flow stagnation
and
interruption may occur while materials are being combined in a dynamic mix
tank.
Different proportions of flow rates can occur and prevent the desired product
formulation
from being achieved. If the desired formulation is not achieved, product is
wasted.
Furthermore, the residence time often necessary to achieve mixing and axial
dispersion of
the materials requires energy and may be difficult to achieve with multiple
additions of
minor materials.
The apparatus 10 described and claimed herein may utilize an inline mixer. As
used herein an inline mixer refers to a mixing device which does not impute
macro-scale
flow stagnation, or prevent a continuous flow through portion of the apparatus
10 having
the inline mixer from occurring. One non-limiting type of inline mixer is, for
example, an
ultrasonic or cavitation type mixer. One such system is a SonolatorTM
homogenizing system
available from Sonic Corporation of Stratford, CT. Another non-limiting type
of inline
mixer is a static mixer as known in the art and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
6,186,193 B 1,
issued Feb. 13, 2001 to Phallen et al. and in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,550,960
B2, issued Apr. 22, 2003 to Catalfamo et al.; 6,740,281 B2, issued May 25,
2004 to
Pinyayev et al.; 6,743,006 B2, issued June 1, 2004 to Jaffer et al.; and
6,793,192 B2,
issued Sept. 21, 2004 to Verbrugge. Further, if desired, static mixers or
other inline
mixers may be disposed in or with one or more of the inlet tubes 14A or
upstream of the
confluence region 12. Additionally, surge tanks may be used to provide more
constant
flow for materials combined by the apparatus 10 and method described and
claimed
herein. Additionally or alternatively a Zanker plate may be utilized.
The major and/or minor material(s) may comprise a fluid, typically a liquid,
although gaseous major and minor materials are contemplated. Liquids are
inclusive of
suspensions, emulsions, slurries, aqueous and nonaqueous materials, pure
materials,
blends of materials, etc., all having a liquid state of matter.
Optionally, at least one of the major material(s) and one or more of the minor
material(s) may comprise a solid, such as a granular or particulate substance.
Granular or
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particulate materials may be added in any known fashion, including but not
limited to that
disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,496 B2, issued Mar. 30,
2004 to
Kressin et al.
While the invention is described below in non-limiting, exemplary terms of
pumps
20 and servomotors, the invention is not so limited and may use any motive
force or
similar means for supplying the major and minor materials. A used herein
motive force
refers to any force used to provide energy which, in turn, is used to supply
materials to the
confluence region 12 and may include, without limitation, electric motors,
gravity feeds,
manual feeds, hydraulic feeds, pneumatic feeds, etc.
The at least one major material(s) and/or at least one minor material(s) may
be
supplied from a hopper, tank, reservoir, pump 20, such as a positive
displacement pump
20, or other supply or source to the pipe, or other supply devices, as are
known in the art
and provide the desired accuracy for dosing such materials. The major
material(s) and/or
minor material(s) may be supplied via a pump 20, auger feed, or any other
suitable means.
The apparatus 10 for providing the major and/or minor materials may comprise a
plurality of positive displacement pumps 20. Each pump 20 may be driven by an
associated motor, such as an AC motor or a servomotor. Each servomotor may be
dedicated to a single pump 20 or optionally may drive plural pumps 20. This
arrangement
eliminates the necessity of having flow control valves, flow meters and
associated flow
control feedback loops as are used in the prior art.
As used herein, a flow control valve refers to a valve quantitatively used to
allow a specific quantity or flow rate of material to pass thereby and is used
to modulate
actual flow rate. A flow control valve does not include an on-off valve which
allows the
process according to the present invention to qualitatively start or stop.
Referring to Fig. 9, an illustrative flow control feedback loop according to
the
prior art is illustrated. A flow control feedback loop compares a flow rate
set point, or
command signal, to a measured flow rate. A subtraction is performed to
determine an
error. The error, in turn, is used to adjust or correct the velocity drive
control. The
velocity drive control is associated with a motor operatively connected to the
pump 20
from which the actual flow rate is measured. This system has the disadvantage
that the
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system response may be dictated by and constrained by the accuracy and
response time of
the flow meter.
Referring to Fig. 10, a nonlimiting, exemplary motor control loop according to
the
present invention, is shown. Such a motor control loop may or may not comprise
at least
one of a feedforward loop and/or feedback loop, so long as the control system
does not
have zero gain in the position control or velocity control if the appropriate
feedforward
loops are not utilized.
If desired, the motor control loop may comprise nested control loops. The
innermost of these loops may be a torque control feedback loop, which is shown
as a
single box scaling both torque and current. A torque command is input to the
torque
control. The torque control converts the torque command to an equivalent
current
command, which is input to the current controller for the motor. The current
controller, in
turn, provides a current feedback signal to the current control. However a
torque control
may be utilized, recognizing there it is a mathematical relationship between
torque and
current, which may be determined using a scaler. The torque control loop may
be
surrounded by a velocity control feedback loop, which, in turn, may be
surrounded by a
position control feedback loop. The velocity feedback control loop, the
position feedback
control loop and/or a feedforward path for velocity and/or acceleration are
optional
features for the present invention. The velocity and acceleration feed forward
loop may
utilize respective gains Kff and Kaff, as shown.
The derivative of the motor position with respect to time may be taken to
yield
motor velocity, or oppositely, the velocity feedback may be integrated with
respect to time
to yield motor position. The motor position control loop may use a motor
position
command signal and compare this set point or command signal to the motor
position
feedback to calculate position error. A velocity setpoint can be derived from
the position
error using the position controller.
The velocity setpoint may be compared to actual motor velocity to also
determine
a velocity error. This velocity error may be used to adjust the actual
velocity of the motor,
using known techniques. The motor velocity may then be correlated to pump 20
output,
as is known in the art.
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Optionally, the position setpoint may have its derivative taken with respect
to
time, to yield a feedforward velocity. The feedforward velocity may be input
to the
velocity setpoint summer and used in conjunction with the output of the
position loop
control to generate a velocity loop command signal. The feedforward velocity
may also
be used without taking into account the position loop control signal, in order
to generate
the velocity loop command signal. Optionally, the feedforward velocity may
have its
derivative taken to yield a feedforward acceleration. Likewise, the
feedforward
acceleration may be used in conjunction with, or without, the output of the
velocity loop
controller to determine the acceleration profile of the motor, which is
proportional to the
torque command signal issued to the motor.
The setpoints of the major and minor materials may be generated as a fraction
or
percentage of a master volumetric setpoint or command signal. The master
volumetric
setpoint may be defined in terms of total flow volume, flow rates, and/or time
rate of
change of flow rates.
While the foregoing discussion is directed to a motor control loop based on
motor
position, one of the skill will recognize the invention is not so limited. The
motor control
loop may be based on motor position, motor velocity, motor acceleration, motor
current,
motor voltage, torque etc. Such a control system and method may be used to
define a
master setpoint in terms of torque/current, position, velocity, and/or
acceleration,
providing there is a direct relationship between flow and
torque/current/position/velocity/acceleration, as occurs with the present
invention. The
major and minor material setpoints may be input to the individual motive force
systems as
a command position and/or velocity and/or torque setpoint.
The motor position setpoint, or command signal, may be sent to one or more
servomotors. According to the present invention, all of the major materials
and minor
materials may be driven in unison through such servomotors, each of which may
be
coupled to one or more pumps 20. Instead of or in addition to the pump
20/servomotor
combination, one of ordinary skill may use a variable frequency drive to vary
the voltage
supplied to an AC motor-driven pump 20. Alternatively, or additionally, pump
20 output
can be changed using various other means, as are known in the art. For
example, to vary
pump 20 output for a given motor, one could use a mechanical variable
speed/adjustable
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speed drive, a multi-speed transmission/gearbox, and/or a hydraulic adjustable
speed
drive.
This arrangement provides the benefit that the flow rates of some or all of
the
major materials and minor materials can be ramped up or down in unison without
requiring a common drive or flow control valves, providing greater fidelity to
the desired
formulation of the final blend of all materials. Thus, if one desires to have
a step change,
a ramp change either up or down, or even a start/stop in one or more flow
rates, this
transient can be accommodated more quickly than according to the prior art
known to the
inventors. Thus, the proportion of major and minor materials remains within a
relatively
tight tolerance of the desired formulation without unduly disrupting or unduly
decreasing
a flow rate usable for production quantities.
As noted above, this arrangement provides the benefit that it is not necessary
to
have a control loop directly monitoring flow rates. Instead, the flow rates
for the major
and minor materials may be determined by knowledge of the pump 20
characteristics for a
given fluid viscosity, pump 20 type, and inlet/outlet pressure differential.
Based on a
desired flowrate, pump 20 compensation algorithms may be used to achieve
accurate flow
rate delivery without requiring direct flow measurement. Direct flow
measurement may
introduce delays and inaccuracies during high-speed transient response due to
limitations
inherent in the instrumentation, system hysteresis, etc.
The pump 20 may be driven to its desired rotational speed depending upon pump
20 capacity, including any motor or pump 20 slip factor to account for the
pump 20
operating at less than 100 percent efficiency. If desired, the apparatus 10
and method
according to the present invention may monitor torque, position, velocity
and/or
acceleration of the motor shaft.
Thus, an apparatus 10 and method according to the present invention might not
have a flow feedback loop to compensate for variations in flow rate or even a
flow meter
to monitor the addition and/or rate of addition of the individual major or
minor materials,
for example, as they are added to the confluence region 12. Such a control
system
provides a relatively high degree of fidelity to the desired, i.e. commanded,
response.
The apparatus 10 and method claimed herein may be controlled by a command
signal as is known in the art. The command signal may be considered to be a
dynamic
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setpoint, and is the target rate of material addition for each material at a
given point in
time. The command signal may be sent from a computer, such as a PLC. The
signal from
the PLC may be sent to a motor drive system. The PLC and drive system may be
internal
or external to the system under consideration.
If desired, each motor may have a dedicated drive controller. The command
signal(s) is/are sent from the computer to the drive controller and then to
the motor, which
may be a servomotor. Of course, one of skill will recognize that other
apparatus 10 and
means for adding the materials may be utilized and the command signal sent
from the
controller to such apparatus 10 or means of material addition. Upon receipt of
the
command signal, the servomotor accelerates or decelerates to the specified
rotational
speed for its associated pump 20 or other apparatus 10 or means of material
addition. The
rate of material addition is thereby controlled from the command signal.
Two types of tracking error may be considered with the present invention.
Tracking error is the difference between the value of a command signal and a
process
variable. The first is the instantaneous tracking error given in volume of
material
transferred per unit time. The instantaneous error measures the difference
between any
process variable and the command signal at a specific point in time.
The second tracking error one may consider the cumulative error. The
cumulative
error is the sum of each instantaneous error for each material under
consideration
throughout a specific period of time and is measured in volume. The period of
time under
consideration will depend upon the length of the transient.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the tracking error shown is the difference between
the
command signal and a feedback process variable. In Figure 3, the particular
feedback
process variable is the actual flowrate measured by a flowmeter for purposes
of
benchmarking. However, according to the present invention, a flowmeter is not
necessary
for production of material combinations, mixtures or blends.
Fig. 3 particularly shows the performance of one system according to the prior
art.
This system had a pipe with a nominal diameter of 5.1 cm. Flow was controlled
by a flow
control ball valve available from Fisher Controls, a division of Emerson of
St. Louis,
Missouri. The valve was controlled by an Allen-Bradley ControLogixTM 1756-5550
controller. The controller relayed signals to the control valve based upon
measured flow
CA 02620331 2009-05-28
14
rate. Flow rate was measured by a Micro Motion CMF 100 ELITETM mass flow meter
with
an RFT 9739 transmitter, also available from Emerson. The system used water at
a
pressure of approximately 10 bar in response to a step input. Examination of
Fig. 3 shows
that the system took approximately 40 seconds to reach steady state
conditions.
Fig. 4 shows the ideal theoretical response to a step input using a control
valve.
The command signal shows a step input. The response is calculated according to
the
formula: g( t ) = 1 - c -U" using a one second time constant ('r). Even under
such
favorable theoretical conditions, Fig. 4 shows that it may take approximately
four time
constants, and therefore four seconds in this example, to reach steady state
conditions.
Fig. 4 also shows that for a step input, steady state conditions according to
the
present invention may be reached in less than 0.1 seconds. The system
according to the
present invention in Fig. 4 utilized a command signal from an Allen Bradley
ControlLogix 1756-L61 processor communicating via a SercosTM 1756-M16SE
communication card to an Allen Bradley KinetixTM 6000 drive system for the
minor
material. The minor material, a dye solution, was supplied by a ZenithTM C-
9000 pump
available from the Colfax Pump Group of Monroe, NC and driven by an Allen
Bradley
MPF-B330P servomotor. The servomotor had a dedicated Sercos Rack K6000 drive.
The servo motor and the pump 20 were connected through an Alpha GearTM SP+
drive
available from Alpha Gear of Alpha Gear Drives, Inc. of Elk Grove Village, IL.
As shown in Figs. 3 - 4, in the prior art, low tracking error and relatively
constant
proportions of materials were difficult to achieve with a step change or with
a sharp ramp
change. This is because not all of the valves, actuators, etc., could respond
simultaneously, in synchronization, and in the same proportion during these
rapid change
conditions. However, with the present invention and the absence of valves,
particularly
flow control valves, dynamic mix tanks, the associated hysteresis, etc.,
greater fidelity of
response to the command signal can be achieved.
One transient which may be considered is from the start of flow, or the start
of a
change in flow rate command, to the point at which steady state operation is
achieved.
Such a transient is shown in Figs. 5 - 6. Figs. 5 - 6 were generated with a
system
according to the present invention. This system had a horizontally disposed,
5.1 cm
diameter confluence region 12 with a constant cross section. The confluence
region 12
CA 02620331 2009-05-28
had eight inlets 141, each with an inner diameter of 3 mm, disposed on a
diameter of 1.5
cm as shown in Figs. 1 - 2, although only two inlets 141 were utilized for
this example.
The major material comprised a liquid soap mixture. The first and second minor
materials comprised two different dye solutions. The major material, first
minor material
and second minor material were set to the desired proportions of 98.75, 0.75,
and 0.5
percent respectively. The actual command signal issued to the servomotor
control may be
adjusted in accordance with known pump 20 compensation algorithms to account
for the
common pump 20 inefficiencies and irregularities.
The major material was supplied by a WaukeshaTM UII-060 pump available from
SPX Corp. of Delavan, WI and driven by an Allen Bradley MPF-B540K servomotor.
Each minor material was supplied by a Zenith C-9000 pump available from the
Colfax
Pump Group of Monroe, NC and driven by an Allen Bradley MPF-B330P servomotor.
Each servomotor had a dedicated Sercos Rack K6000 drive and was connected
through an
Alpha Gear SP+ drive available from Alpha Gear of Alpha Gear Drives, Inc. of
Elk Grove
Village, IL. The system was controlled by an Allen Bradley ControlLogix 1756-
L61
processor communicating via a Sercos 1756-M16SE communication card to an Allen
Bradley UltraTM 3000 or Allen Bradley Kinetix 6000 drive system for the major
and minor
materials, respectively.
A fourteen element SMX static mixer available from Sulzer was disposed within
approximately one mm of the start of the confluence region 12. A twelve
element SMX
static mixer was disposed approximately 46 cm downstream of the first static
mixer. The
materials were considered to be adequately mixed after the second static
mixer.
As shown by Figs. 5 - 6 the present invention may be used with transients
having
various increasing flow rates, various decreasing flow rates, or with steady
state operation
at various constant rates. The curve illustrated in Fig. 5 can be divided into
three
generally distinct segments. The first segment of the curve is the ramp-up
where flow
rates of each of the materials increases from zero to a predetermined value
for each
material. The second portion of the curve is the steady state flow, wherein
the flow rates
are maintained relatively constant and may be usable for production
quantities. The third
portion of the curve shows the ramp-down from the steady state flow rate to a
lesser flow
rate. The lesser flow rate may be zero, in the degenerate case, or it may be a
flow rate
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which is simply less than that shown in the other portions of the curve.
Throughout all
three portions of these curves the proportion of each material to the total of
the blend of
all materials in the feed is maintained substantially constant.
In one embodiment the command signal may be for a transient to go from a no
flow or zero flow signal to a signal of 100 percent of full scale flow in a
single transient
although steady state flow rates of less than 100 percent may be utilized. The
transient
may be commanded to occur in not more than 2 seconds, not more than one
second, not
more than one-half second or less. During such a transient, according the
present
invention, each major or minor material, i.e. first, second third .... nth
material, may
remain within + 10 percent, 5 percent, 3 percent or 1 percent of measured full
scale flow
throughout the transient. The percentage may be based on the instantaneous
error,
described below.
Of course, one of ordinary skill will realize the invention is not limited to
transients with only three different flow rates. The transition from a first
steady state flow
may be to a greater or lesser steady state flow rate. Multiple transitions,
both increasing
and decreasing in any combination, pattern, of equal or unequal time periods,
ramps, etc.,
may be utilized as desired.
According to the present invention, the at least one first material and at
least one
second material occur in a generally constant proportion, i.e., constant flow
relative rates
into the confluence region 12 throughout the steady state operating period.
Likewise, the
substantially constant proportion is maintained throughout the transitional
flow rate
periods as well. The substantially constant proportion is maintained both as
flow rates
increase and decrease, so long as the flow rate is greater than a near zero,
nontrivial value.
While a first order, linear rate of change throughout the transition regions
is
illustrated in Figs. 5 -6, the invention is not so limited. A second order,
third order, etc.,
rate of change may also be utilized, so long as the substantially constant
proportion is
maintained. It is only necessary that the pumps 20, or other motive forces, be
controlled
in such a way that generally constant proportionality is maintained. While
constant
proportion may be more readily envisioned, and easier to execute and program
utilizing a
linear rate of change, one of skill will recognize other options are available
to maintain
the constant proportion throughout the transitions.
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Referring back to the systems of Figs. 3- 4 and as illustrated by Table 1,
which
tabulates the data illustrated in Fig. 4, the instantaneous error according to
the prior art
decreases throughout the duration of the transient. However, this error never
reaches the
relatively low value of the present invention within the 5 second time period
illustrated in
Table 1. Table 1 also illustrates the cumulative error for both the prior art
and present
invention systems.
Table 1
Tracking Error Time in seconds from start of command signal step.
Command signal issued at T = 1 second.
INSTANTANEOUS 0.1 sec. 0.25 sec. 0.50 sec. 1 sec. 5 sec.
RROR (volume/sec)
Prior Art 0.905 0.779 0.607 0.369 0.009
Present Invention 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002 0.002
CUMULATIVE 0.1 sec. 0.25 sec. 0.50 sec. 1 sec. 5 sec.
RROR (volume)
Prior Art 0.089 0.215 0.386 0.624 0.990
Present Invention 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.015
Fig. 7 illustrates that the instantaneous error can be approximated by the
first order
exponential equation:
IE = A*M*exp(- t/ti)
Where IE is the instantaneous error in volume per unit time, and
A is the magnitude of the setpoint change, normalized to unity for the present
invention,
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M is a coefficient of the amplitude which reduces the value of the amplitude
from
the normalized unity setpoint magnitude to any value from 0 to 1, or from 0.1
to 1,
or from 0.2 to 1 or from 0.3 to 1 or from 0.4 to 1 or from 0.5 to 1, as
desired,
t is the instantaneous time in seconds,
ti is the time constant in seconds.
This approximation is particularly suitable for prior art transients lasting
up to 1 second, 2
seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds and even 5 seconds. Illustrative, non-limiting
combinations of the coefficient, time constant and time period under
consideration are set
forth in Table 2.
TABLE 2
M Tau t(sec)
0.5 1.0 0-0.5*'L
0.5 0.75 0 - 1.33*ti
0-1*'L
0 - 0.5*'L
0.5 0.5 0-3*'t
0-2*'L
0 1*ti
0.5 0.25 0 8*ti
0-4*'L
0-2*'L
0.25 1.0 0 -1.5*'L
o-1*ti
0.25 0.75 0 - 2*'t
0 1*ti
0.25 0.5 0 -- 3*ti
0-1.5*'L
0.25 0.25 0 - 4*ti
0 -- 2*'L
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Fig. 7 further shows that the present invention may achieve an instantaneous
error
given by the following exemplary inequalities, although any of the
combinations set forth
in Table 2 or otherwise may be utilized.
IE < A*M*exp(- t/ti) for values of M=0.5, 'L = 1, evaluated from time t=0 to
0.5*ti
or more particularly
IE < A*M*exp(- t/ti) for values of M=0.5, 'L = 0.5, evaluated for t from 0 to
3.0*ti
or more particularly
IE < A*M*exp(- t/ti) for values of M=0.25, 'L = 1.0, evaluated for t from 0 to
1.5*ti.
The instantaneous error can be integrated over a desired time period to yield
a
cumulative error for that period according to the formula
t2
CE = f IE d(t)
t,
Where CE is the cumulative error,
t1 is the starting time and set to 0 for the degenerate case, and
t2 is the end of the time period under consideration.
Fig. 8 illustrates that the cumulative error according to the prior art can be
approximated by the equation
CEk = (0.5* (IEk_1 + IEk) * AT) + CEk_1
Where CE is the cumulative error in volume,
k is the index for the specific discrete time period,
AT is the discrete time sampling and period, in seconds, and
IE remains as previously defined.
However, one of skill will recognize that the instantaneous error approaches
zero
as time continues towards steady state flow. Since the cumulative error is
dependent upon
instantaneous error, the cumulative error will not significantly increase as
the
instantaneous error approaches zero. One of ordinary skill will recognize that
any
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combination of values set forth in Table 2 may be utilized with the present
invention, so
that the invention is not limited to the above inequalities for instantaneous
error or
associated cumulative error.
If desired, one may utilize a piston pump with the present invention. A piston
pump may provide more versatility with certain fluids which may be used in
conjunction
with the present invention, and also has a pulsating output which provides
repeating
fluctuations in the flow rate. If desired, one may program the servomotor to
have a
negative superposition with the actual pump output so that the fluctuations
are dampened
by using camming of the motor, as is known in the art. This provides the
advantage that
no dampener is necessary in the system downstream of the piston pump. The
dampener
may add hysteresis or other undesirable affects which are avoided according to
the present
invention.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is presented. In this embodiment, a
small portion, which may be a minority portion, of the product stream is
diverted. The
diverted portion of the product may have all of the materials of the final
product as
desired. Alternatively, the diverted minority portion may be missing one or
more
materials.
The diverted minority portion of the product stream may have at least one
material
added using the apparatus 10 and method disclosed herein. The minor material
may be
added to the diverted stream immediately upstream of an ultrasonic horn,
static mixer, etc.
This portion of the stream is then usable as an intermediate or final product.
This
minority portion, having thus been completed, is then discharged into the
container for
ultimate use.
The majority portion of the stream may continue through the process unabated,
without the further addition of a minor material, and without diversion.
Alternatively,
additional minor materials may be added to the major portion of the product
stream. The
major portion of the product stream is then sent to a container for ultimate
use, as
disclosed above.
This arrangement provides the benefit that parallel manufacture of a major
product
and a minor product may be simultaneously accomplished. For example, the major
portion of the product may comprise a first die, perfume, additive, etc. A
less popular or
CA 02620331 2009-05-28
21
less often used minor portion of the product stream may be diverted and have a
second
die, perfume, or other additive included in the final product. Alternatively,
this
arrangement provides the benefit that the major portion of the product may be
produced
without a particular dye, perfume, additive, etc., while a desired dye,
perfume, or other
additive is included in the diverted stream of the minority product, or vice
versa. This
arrangement provides the benefit that both products may be produced in any
desired
proportion without costly shutdown, cleaning, etc.
Of course, one of skill will recognize that more than a single minority
product
stream may be diverted. Plural minority streams may be diverted, each
producing a
relatively small quantity of the final product with or without specific and
other additives.
This arrangement provides flexibility in the manufacturing process for
producing a large
or majority first quantity of a blend of materials and one or more relatively
small, even
very small, minority quantities of materials, all without shutting down and
recleaning the
apparatus 10 and associated systems.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated
and
described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other
changes and
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and
modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
